Tuesday, August 08, 2017

Undenatured carrageenan is a natural stabilizer, binding
agent, and emulsifier used in products such as toothpaste in place of SLS and other truly
undesirable ingredients commonly used in mass market products. It is also used
in some vegan-friendly softgel capsule material as an alternative to
animal-derived gelatin.

There is an Internet myth that carrageenan is unsafe; due
primarily to confusion with a so-called “denatured carrageenan” polymer that is
actually poligeenan, a heavily processed low molecular weight seaweed
derivative currently used only as an x-ray imaging component. Poligeenan, previously used
in pharmaceuticals, is quite different from the undenatured high molecular
weight material that we use. Due to the safety concerns over poligeenan,
regulations routinely require the carrageenan added to foods to have high
molecular weight to ensure its integrity. But there are no unresolved safety
concerns with undenatured carrageenan.

Carrageenan has been thoroughly vetted
by national and international public health authorities over a number of
decades, even recently in response to the ongoing blogger-driven controversies,
so there is no remaining basis of concern. Even its use in infant formulas was
recently reconfirmed to be safe, and it’s helpful in distributing the nutrients
more evenly to avoid the settling out that could otherwise cause uneven
nutrient intake when a bottle is only partially consumed.

After repeated
investigations, the evidence for carrageenan safety is stronger than ever.
Carrageenan is extremely safe and present in a number of healthy seaweeds; only
the denatured form of carrageenan - a drug - is toxic.

Friday, January 20, 2017

Sorbitol is a "sugar alcohol" that occurs naturally in various fruits (apples, peaches,
nectarines, plums, grapes, cherries, apricots, pears, rose hips, berries,
dates, coconut) at levels of 1% or more. Wasabi can contain up to 11%, and
common dried fruits (prunes, pears) almost the same level. Of course, beer would
be expected to have small amounts, as well.

Sorbitol can be commericially produced from glucose. Non-GMO sources are available.

In higher doses (30-50 grams) sorbitol can be laxative, but it is a useful non-cariogenic sweetener that doesn't promote dental caries (cavities).

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

The skin of animals is much more sensitive
than people’s, so essential oils should always be used with caution. Don’t use essential oils directly on the fur/skin
of cats. While cats are considered more sensitive to the oils than dogs, both
are far more sensitive than us, so even a little in an enclosed space could be
overwhelming to them.

The oils are considered potentially harmful to dogs and
cats if eaten. For example, eucalyptus oil can cause stomach upset, and in high
doses liver toxicity. Eucalyptus oil can also damage the ear canal of cats if
applied directly. Other oils may have similar or different risks.

Birds are not advised to be near aromatherapy oils at all, as they
are potentially even more delicate in regard to smells than dogs and cats.

Diffusing is likely safer than direct topical appliucation or letting the pet actually consume the oil, but it still represents some risk depending on the type and amount of oil used, the room size, the diffusion method, and the amount of fresh air entering and circulating in the room. Never diffuse essential oils diluted into carrier oils; always use 100% pure essential oils only.

Be cautious and safe with essential oils around pets by avoiding excess exposure, concentrations of aromas, or opportunities for the animals to lick or otherwise consume them! If in doubt, don't do it.

The ketogenic diet is a low carbohydrate (carb) diet
designed to change the energy source of the brain from sugar to fats (ketones)
and to increase the use of fats as an energy source in the body as a whole by severely restricting the
intake of dietary carbohydrates. It overlaps a lot with the Paleo diet in that
the ketogenic diet consists largely of meats and fats.

For the ketogenic diet, fish are
good choices. Full-fat dairy is allowed, but fermented and unsweetened ones are
preferred. Fruits are quite limited though, to small amounts of berries, plus
lemons and limes in moderation, and olives and avocado (these two are fatty
fruits, rather than sugary). Vegetables consist mostly of non-root ones because those have more
carbs. Legumes are largely avoided, except small amounts of green beans and
peas. Nuts and seeds are used in moderation as they have some carbs; but
avoid peanuts, which are legumes, not nuts.

Fats represent most calories in the ketogenic
diet: avocado oil, coconut oil, olive oil, butter, cocoa butter, MCT oil, and
nut oils in moderation (i.e. walnut, sesame). Eggs and unsweetened gelatin are fine.
Processed foods and condiments that have added sugars or carbohydrates should
be avoided. Sugar alcohols are also avoided; stevia is acceptable, but watch
for added carbohydrates in some stevia products.

Unsweetened whey protein isolate
(not concentrate) has the least amount of lactose of the milk proteins; unsweetened egg white protein is also fine. Though legumes are avoided if they
have carbs, unsweetened pea protein or soy protein isolates are acceptable
options in the ketogenic diet.

Friday, October 07, 2016

Taurine is a
nature-identical/natural form amino acid that’s commercially synthesized from
common chemicals. It’s made from the reaction of sulfuric acid with
mono-ethanol amine; also known as ethanolamine; which is an amino alcohol
that’s also part of phospholipids, like the phosphatidylethanolamine
(PE) in lecithin, that are important components of cell membranes.

Taurine, a
sulphur-containing amino acid, is the most abundant intracellular amino acid in
humans, and is involved in numerous biological and physiological functions, including bile production and heart health. Once we pass infancy, we routinely synthesize taurine in our bodies from the amino acids methionine and cysteine with
the aid of vitamin B6. That makes it a nonessential amino acid for
most of us; though specific groups of individuals are at risk for
taurine deficiency and may benefit from supplementation.

I personally take 1,000 mg of taurine twice a day for heart heath now, as I have had troubling arrhythmia incidents send me to the emergency room and am medically at risk for progressively worse outcomes over time. It has shown effectiveness in increasing exercise capability in heart failure patients and arterial compliance to nitric oxide to support healthy blood pressure. I also take l-carnitine, olive leaf extract, magnesium, l-citrulline, Pycnogenol, grape seed extract, hawthorn leaf and flower extract, a good multivitamin, and other supplements to support my cardiovascular health and hold off that disturbing prognosis as long as possible.

Taurine has no d- or l- forms, similar to glycine but unlike most amino acids that have different optical rotations in distinct natural and synthetic forms. All taurine is the natural form, even if produced by chemical synthesis, whether commercially or in our bodies.

Monday, August 29, 2016

The U.S. Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) has established an Adequate Intake (AI) of 4.7 grams/day of potassium in a healthy adult. A tolerable upper limit (UL) was not established for potassium since there was no evidence of adverse effects from a high level of potassium from foods consumed by healthy adults.

Potassium is a food substance and is affirmed as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the U.S. FDA (21 CFR 184.1622) (FDA, 2012a). In October 2000, food containing at least 350 mg potassium and 140 mg or less of sodium was approved by the FDA to have the following health claim on product labeling: "Diets containing foods that are good sources of potassium and low in sodium may reduce the risk of high blood pressure and stroke." (FDA, 2012b; NMCD, 2012).

Some experts suggest that a single dose of potassium should be limited to 500 mg, while a total of 1,500 mg daily is considered safe for general supplementation. This is well within the AI level.

The 99 mg. limit on potassium tablets and capsules is based on a remote risk of a pill damaging the intestinal wall if it releases its content slowly. That risk does not apply to liquid forms, or to powders that are mixed with liquids. While higher amounts are allowable, a long warning is required on all potassium products intended for oral ingestion providing 100 mg or more of the mineral in a capsule or coated tablet form: http://law.justia.com/cfr/title21/21-4.0.1.1.2.7.1.7.html

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About Me

Neil E. Levin, CCN, DANLA is a nationally board-certified clinical nutritionist with a Diplomate in Advanced Nutritional Laboratory Assessment. He is a professional member of the International & American Associations of Clinical Nutritionists.
Neil is a nutrition educator and a dietary supplement formulator.
Neil is a member of the Scientific Council of the national Clinical Nutrition Certification Board and is on the board of directors of the Mid-American Health Organization (MAHO), the Midwest regional affiliate of the National Products Association (NPA). In July, 2008, Neil was named an NPA Industry Champion, "an award given to people who have made notable individual contributions to industry above and beyond what is expected to achieve commercial success".
Neil is the immediate past president and Program Chair of the American Nutrition Association (americannutritionassociation.org).
Neil is frequently published or quoted in magazines, newspapers, and scientific journals and has been on numerous radio and television news programs. Follow me on Twitter: neilelevin